Vail International Dance Festival announces part of lineup for 2013

Special to the daily/Johan Persson
In a nod to the origins of the Vail International Dance Festival, Russian ballet star Sergei Polunin will perform on both International Evenings of Dance programs August 2 and 3.

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VAIL, Colorado - The Vail International Dance Festival, led by Artistic Director Damian Woetzel, reaches an important milestone this year as it celebrates its 25th anniversary with special programming and exciting events, including a world premiere by a living legend of modern dance, Paul Taylor. The Vail premiere will mark Taylor's 139th creation."My dancers and I look forward to performing in Vail, one of the country's most idyllic spots, and this summer I am especially eager to see the world premiere of my new dance in the beautiful environs of the Ford Amphitheater," said Taylor.Now 82 years old, Taylor has been creating work encompassing a wide range of topics and movement styles for the past 55 years on rousing subjects ranging from war to sexuality. He has been awarded nearly every honor known to the artistic world, including an Emmy, Speaking in Tongues, the National Medal of the Arts and the Kennedy Center Honors.The Paul Taylor Dance Company will present the world premiere on Aug. 5 as part of the NOW: Premieres program. Unique to Vail, the evening brings a selection of today's most innovative and renowned choreographers together on one stage, and is hosted by festival Director Damian Woetzel. In addition to Taylor's world premiere, the performance will include new works by Larry Keigwin, Brian Brooks, Charles "Lil Buck" Riley and others to be announced."NOW: Premieres reflects the ongoing commitment of the Festival to the creation of new dance works," said Woetzel. "Over the last 25 years, we have premiered dances in Vail by a wide variety of choreographers and this year we are honored to present a new work by Paul Taylor, whose dances have affected generations of audiences, and who is among history's most powerful poets in any art form." The 25th anniversary season of the Vail International Dance Festival takes place July 28 through Aug. 10 in Vail and Beaver Creek. Other highlights are a series of performances by Pacific Northwest Ballet as part of two unique programs and the opening night celebration, with repertoire to include the classic Swan Lake (Act II, with choreography by Kent Stowell) and an evening of masterworks by George Balanchine.Additional festival performers include Riley, who returns to Vail after a world tour accompanying Madonna; New York City Ballet stars Tiler Peck and Robert Fairchild as the 2013 festival artists in residence; International Evenings featuring stellar artists from around the world, including Russian ballet star Sergei Polunin, acclaimed Taiwanese modern dancer Fang-Yi Sheu, and Argentinian tango master Gabriel Misse; and a special UpClose performance celebrating virtuoso footwork in a variety of dance styles from Memphis jookin' to tango and classical ballet. A series of public events, including master classes and a celebration of National Dance Day with special guests, will augment the festival's performance events. A full schedule of 2013 artists and performances will be announced in the coming weeks.Tickets for the 2013 Vail International Dance Festival will go on sale March 13 at 11 a.m. Tickets may be purchased online at vaildance.org or by calling the box office at 888-920-2787). For a $125 donation to the festival, tickets may be purchased beginning on March 12 at 11 a.m. Follow the festival on Twitter at @vaildance and via Facebook at Vail International Dance Festival for updates, additions and features. The Vail International Dance Festival is a project of the Vail Valley Foundation and is directed by Damian Woetzel. For more information on the Vail Valley Foundation, visit vvf.org.